Minister of Education and Science of RA Levon Mkrtchyan paid an official visit to Moscow on March 21-22, during which he met with Deputy Finance Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Storchak.
During the meeting parties discussed issues related to the further financing, cooperation format and ensuring continuity of the “Sustainable school feeding” program, sponsored by the Government of the Russian Federation and implemented by UN World Food program in Armenia.
Minister L. Mkrtchyan expressed gratitude to the Russian Government for assistance and underlined the intention of Armenia’s Government to expand the National Program. He also added, that RA Government established “Sustainable school feeding” fund for this purpose.
Russian Deputy Finance Minister Storchak expressed satisfaction with the productive implementation of the program, and also pointed out that the program is among priorities in cooperation with Armenia. He reaffirmed Russia's readiness to ensure the continuity of the program, as well as to assist the establishment of the fund.
It has been already 7 years since schoolchildren of 1-4 grades in the Armenian regions receive free food within “Sustainable school feeding in Armenia” program. The initiative is carried out by the efforts of UN World Food Program, the Government of Armenia and Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute of the Russian Federation. Since 2014, the Government of Armenia has been implementing “Sustainable school feeding" National Program, which in September will also include the fourth, Tavush region, in addition to the three regions of Ararat, Vayots Dzor and Syunik.